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Category Archives: History

Aside

For the 6th year in a row, there will be much ado in downtown Princeton about the number Pi (3.14) and Albert Einstein’s 136th birthday. People gather from near and far to partake in this eccentric annual celebration of math, science, and education. But, you don’t have to be a genius to enjoy this jam packed day of fun-filled, family friendly festivities. Everyone is an Einstein on Pi Day – even if you don’t know what Pi is.

This is year is a very special Pi Day. It’s actually so special that it is heralded as the Pi Day of the Century! Here’s why:

Normally, Pi Day falls on any old March 14, which is exciting because when written numerically, it follows the first three digits of the mathematical constant π that allows us to work out the circumference, area, and volume around objects. This year, however, Pi Day will give us 10 digits when we reach 3.14.15 at 9:26.53 AM! And, this only takes place once every century!

Pi Day of the Century will take place on Saturday, March 14, or simply 3.14, or even more simply π. Check out this years’ schedule of events below or click here to visit the official Pi Day Princeton website for more detailed information:

7:00 AM: Walk a Pi Event

9:00 AM: Pie Eating Contest

9:26:53 AM: My Once in a Lifetime Teacher Contest

9:30 AM: Westminster Conservatory of Music

10:00 AM: Kids of All Ages Violin Exhibition

10:00 AM:- 11:00 AM: KENKEN Lecture and Demo

11:00 AM: – 12:00 PM: KENKEN Tournament for Teens

11:00 AM: Happy Birthday, Albert!

11:00 AM: Einstein Look-A-Like Contest

11:00 AM: Pi X Pi(e) Bike Tour

12:00 PM: Miss Amy “Fitness Rock & Roll” Interactive Concert

12:00 PM: Dinky Train Rides with Einstein

12:00 PM: Nerd Herd Smart Phone Pub Crawl

12:00 PM: 15 Minute Mini Production of the Steve Martin Play “Picasso at Lapin Agile”

1:00 PM: Pi Recitation Contest

1:00 PM: Serious Inventors Only Cocktail Making Class

1:30 PM – 1:59 PM: Hands-On Interactive Event for Children

1:59 PM:- Princeton Pirade by Kids’ Music Round

1:59 PM: Pi Pizza Competition

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: He’s Got a Theremin and He’s Not Afraid to Use It! Where Music and Physics Meet

2:00 PM: 15 Minute Mini Production of the Steve Martin Play “Picasso at Lapin Agile”

Picture this: You have just finished chatting with a friend you haven’t been able to spend time with for a little while. It is brought up in the conversation that you’d like to plan a day or night to go out, kick back, and try to catch up. There was even some talk about inviting a few more of your friends to tag along. It sounded great, and you were excited for it. You were really just tangled up in the moment.

Until the conversation ended, and the phones were put down, you hadn’t really thought about HOW you were going to actually spend the night. In a way, you seem to expect the perfect plans to just fall into your lap. Continue reading →

Happy summer friends! I hope everyone was able to make it through that frosty and harsh winter! Now that the weather is really starting to heat up, I’m sure all of you, like me, are ready to kick back, relax, and pick up a frosty pint to cool off. After getting in the spirit over the weekend with Independence Day, I couldn’t be more excited to announce that we will be celebrating American beers this month down at the Yankee Doodle Tap Room! And what better way to kick things off then to reflect on why beer is such a part of America’s pastime. Continue reading →

Chinese NewYears are named after a cycle of twelve animals that go in the order of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog and Pig. This coming year is the year of the Rabbit and it officially begins on February 3, 2011.

The legend of the Chinese New Year includes a story on why the Cat never made the zodiac list.

The 12 Chinese Zodiac Cycle

Once upon a time, the Jade Emperor thought it would be better to assign an animal to each year so people could more easily remember the Zodiac cycle. He decided to hold a meeting with all the animals so that he could choose twelve of them to be the Zodiac animals. At that time, Cat and Rat were close friends. They were very excited about the meeting and decided to go early; however, Cat was a sleepyhead. He hardly ever woke up before noon. On the night before the meeting, he asked Rat to wake him early the next morning. When morning came, Rat got up early and quietly left for the meeting alone. When Cat finally awoke in the afternoon, he knew it was too late. Feeling betrayed, he vowed that henceforth Rat would be his enemy. This is probably the main reason Cats are always chasing after Rats.

Where are you going to be Friday night? If you answered “the tree lighting at Palmer Square” then you will be in the company of thousands who come downtown each year to share in the illumination of the big tree on the Green. Those of you who haven’t shared in the moment yet you need to experience the magic of the event to realize just how special it is.

I am amazed every year that my kids ask if we are going to attend the Palmer Square Tree Lighting. “Where else would we be” is always my answer. It is a tradition that started for us many years ago. I could not imagine being any other place than the Palmer Square Green for this event the night after Thanksgiving. It is the kickoff to our holiday season and gets us in the mood to celebrate and to share special times with family and friends. I love the music, the decorations and the festive atmosphere, but most of all I love the look on my children’s faces when it all comes together and the magic pixie dust lights up the tree and Santa leads the crowd in a rousing round of Jingle Bells. There is nothing more precious to me than seeing the innocence in their eyes and the pureness in their voices as they sing along, even when it is out of tune. Continue reading →

Autumn is the season that the Nassau Inn staff looks forward to the most. The trees along Palmer Square and Nassau Street begin to burst with vibrant colors and the streets awaken, filled with the hustle and bustle of Princeton University students, parents, and professors. The Nassau Inn has the great fortune of bearing witness as a host for all, from near or far.

View of Nassau Inn From Palmer Square

Nothing can replicate the energy that derives from this annual migration into Princeton. Every spring we say goodbye to one and in the fall hello to another, always keeping the town’s spirit renewed and the memories of yesterday’s guests close.

The Yankee Doodle Tap Room becomes the hub of sociability, bringing together students, locals, and hotel guests providing the perfect venue for the forging of lifetime friendships and bonds.

The lobby of our Inn is always buzzing as it serves as the gateway to everything Princeton and the Nassau Inn has to offer. Whether it’s a bride and groom organizing their last minute wedding details, guests checking in, or friends planning their next excursion, we will certainly greet you with a warm smile as you re-energize this town (and our staff). We are thrilled and honored you have chosen to be a part of the rich history of the Nassau Inn.

So whether you’re here to say hello, goodbye, or meet up with friends, the Historic Nassau Inn would like to say, “Welcome back and see you again soon.”

“Time in a Bottle” by Jim Crocewas the theme song of my elementary school graduation. I remember feeling that all I wanted to do was look to the future and what wonder it would bring.

Now, several years removed from that day, I find myself pondering what the past held for the Princetonians who lived in the Palmer Square area many, many years ago and hoping that by burying a present day time capsule in our new patio area I will be able to answer that question for the inquisitive person that unearths it in the very distant future.

When the construction of the Yankee Doodle Tap Room patio began we were pleasantly surprised to find that we uncovered numerous old bottles that had been buried in the dirt outside of the Nassau Inn. The MOD construction crew was careful when extracting them so that we could keep some of these treasures to showcase with our other historical artifacts at the Inn. Continue reading →